Garment-supporter.



v PATENTED JUNE 2, 190a. 4 I p. KRAUS}.

GARMENT SUPPORTER.

APPLIUA'IION'I'ILED FEB. 11, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' H0 MODEL.

l witnesses I TATENTED JUNE 2,1903.

-0. KRAUS.

' GARMENT SUPPORTBR. I

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11 1903.

" 2 sums-sun 2.

10 MODEL.

WWI moses V Patented. .Tune 2, 1963.

PATENT Grrrcn.

o'rro KRAUS, ouNEw YORK, N. Y.

GARMENT-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,02Q, dated. June 2,1903.

Application filed February 11, 1903. Serial No. 142,857. (No model.) I

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OTTO KRAUS, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of New York, in the county of .New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment-Supporters,of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to garmentsupporters, and as disclosedherein is more particularly designed for serviceas'a hosesupporter.

One of the prominent objects of the invention is to insure the positiveengagement of the clamping members, but permit the selfadjustment of thelatter for readily accommodating themselves to firmly hold differentthicknesses of fabric without a proportionate increase or decrease ofpressure on the engaged portion of the same.

With the above and other purposes in view the invention consists of anovel construction of garment-supporter of that type wherein the clampedand clamping members are so constituted that the engaging provision ofone of said members is of greater dimension than that of the othermember, so that mutual engagement of these parts requires a relativechange in position of one of the same before either engagement ordisengagement can'be effected.

Another important feature involved in the spective view of agarment-supporter, showing one form of myinvention, said supporter beingrepresented in an open position. Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional detailviews, on an en larged scale, showing the members partly and completelyengaged, the section being taken in the plane indicated by the brokenline 2 3, Fig. 1, the garment fabric being represented and thesuspending-webbing omitted. Fig. l'is a detail section on the line 4 4,Fig. 2, showing the side flanges, which do not appear in Fig. 1. keeperforming part of vthe clamped member. Figs-6 and '7 are perspective viewsof the two members, presenting another form of my invention. Fig. 8 is adetail sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the broken line 88, Fig. 7. Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective and side views, respectively,of a still further form of the invention. Fig. 11 is a face'view, andFig. 12 a central vertical section, respectively, exemplifying anotherembodiment of the supporter. Fig. 13 is a view somewhat similar to Fig.11, but showing a slight modification of theconstruction disclosed inthat figure. Fig. 14 is a face view illustrating a clamping member andpart of the clamped member of another form of the supporter, this viewmore particularly suggesting the artistic possibilities of the device.Figs. 15 and 16 are face views illustrating additional modifications ofthe supporter.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the drawings where they occur.

Referring now more particularly to Figs.

1 to 5, inclusive, the suspending-webbing A is shown as having the uppertransverse fold stitched to present thedepending bight A, I the webbingthen continuing down back of and upwardly around, threaded through, andsecured-to suspend the slotted plate 13 of the member. to be clamped.The member to be clamped, or, as it will hereinafter, for

brevity, be frequently referred to as the clamped member, comprises asection of the upper or outer face of the portion 0" is a shallowlongitudinal channel 0 which also continues through the flanges c c anddown Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the Y the upper and lower ends ofthe body 0. Snugly within the channel thus formed is a thin metallicstrap or keeper D, generally conforming to the longitudinalconfiguration of the yielding section, the ends of said keeper beingreduced to form short tongues (1, adapted to be passed throughappropriately located openings therefor in the central portion of theplate B and clenched against the same to positively connect the yieldingsection thereto. Shoulders d at the intersection of the tongues with therest of the keeper constitute stops, between which and the turnedportions of the tongues the plate B is clamped to securely attach thekeeper in position. It' will be observed, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3,that the flange 0 is somewhat more extended than is the flange c. Theclamping member is shown as being of wire and consists of thedownwardly-contracting shank F, having the inturned extensions at itsupper end constituting a bar e, bearing in the bight A for pivotallysuspending the member. At its lower contracted end the shank E merges inthe rectangular open frame or head E, embodying the closed lowercrossbar e and practically closed up'per bar e The distance between theinner sides of the bars 6' e of the head E is considerably less thanthat between the outer ends of the upper and lower flanges c c of theyielding section carried by the clamped member. Consequently, in orderto accomplish the engagement of the head E beneath the flanged top ofthe yielding section it will be necessary to hold the head at such anglethat its bar 6 can be moved beneath the lower flange e, as indicated inFig. 2, after which the head can be moved upward to such extent as willpermit its bar e to be passed beneath the flange c, whereupon a slightdownward movement of the head will bring both bars 0 e in such positionas will prevent the disengagement of the head from the yieldin gsection, asshown in Fig. 2. The relative widths of the part 0 of theyielding section and the head E are such that considerable clearance isafforded between the sides of said part and the sides a of the head.This not only conduces to the convenient manipulation of the membersduring the engaging and disengaging operations, but affords room for thefabric between the section sides and those of the head. Assuming theparts to be in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the fabric of thegarment is drawn well on the top of the yielding section, and while thusheld the clamping member is manipulated so that its head assumes anangular position with respect to the plate B, such position beingpossible by reason of the free character of the bight A. By

reason of such manipulation the bars 6' e of the head can then besuccessively introduced beneath the flanges c c, as previouslydescribed, thus causing the garment fabric F to be engaged against theface of the top and around and beneaththe flanges c c of the same.Manifestly the fabricF is maintained in such clamped relation by reasonof the bars 6 0 being, on account of the comparatively restricteddistance between the same, ordinarily prevented from leaving theirposition beneath the flanges. The clinging character of the surface ofthe top and flanges of the yielding section also largely contributes toaugment the engagement. Moreover, downward tension exerted on thefabric, inevitably experienced during use, operates while downwardlymoving the bar 6 to correspondingly influence the bar 0 so that thegreater the tension the more positively will said latter bar bearagainst the end surfaces of the body C and serve to not only more firmlygrip the fabric against the same, but also cause said fabric to moreintimately adhere to the frictional surfaces presented on the top and bythe upper flange c. The engagement of the bar 6 beneath the flange c isinsured and accelerated by a spring (1 integrally formed with the lowerpart of the keeper, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. This tonguecan be formed by slitting the metal of the keeper beneath the flange cand then bending the tongue so formed that as the bar 6 is moved upbeneath the flange c to permit the bar 6 to clear the flange c saidspring will be compressed by the bar e, and when the bar e arrivesopposite the space beneath its flange the spring will react todownwardly move the lower bar, and thereby drag the upper bar into aposition beneath its flange. In most cases the downward tension of thegarment will accomplish this result. The relation and play of the bars 6c with respect to the yielding section are such that fabrics ofdifferent thicknesses can be securely clamped without any proportionateincrease or decrease in the clamping-pressure resulting. It will benoted that the bar 6 is slightly curved in a direction away from thecontiguous end of the yielding section. By this arrangement the downwardtension exerted on the fabric will cause said curved bar to move inrelation to the section end and assume a centered position with respectto said section. This is particularly eflicient where the engagingflanges of the yielding section are transversely disposed, asv will bedescribed. In practice the width of the head will afford such ampleclearance between its sides and those of the clamped member as toaccommodate the greatest'thickness of hose Without undue pressure, andinasmuch as there will also be a clearance between the top and bottombars of the head and the part 0 of the clamped section when in positionthere will be no undue pressure exerted by either of said top and bottombars, thus permitting the greatest scope for engagement of garmentfabrics of different thicknesses without involving a wedging or jammingaction. The distance between the flanges c c and the plate B is alsosuch as to avoid jamming of the fabric between said flanges and theplate. It will be observed that the ends of the flanges c c, as well asthe fabricengaging surfaces of the upper and lower bars of the head, areliberally rounded, so that the turns of the fabric around said flangesand'bars are such as to avoid sharp or abrupt bends in the fabric whenengaged.

In the construction disclosed in Figs. 6 and 7 some of the conditions ofthe previouslydescribed supporter are reversed. B refers to the plate ofthe clamped member, laterally extended at both ends to provide for theslots 1) adapted for the webbing. The body of the plate is slitted andturned over to present the overhanging upper and lower flanges B E thelatter of whichis considerably more extended than the former. Theclamping member E hasthe slotted enlargement e at its upper end forattachment of the webbing. The plate contains a liberal opening acontiguou sly extending from the slotted enlargement to a head Epresented by the lower portion of the plate. Said head is provided withyielding gripping-surfaces formed by cylindrical sections e 6 applied tothe upper and lower transverse edges of the head, such sections havingtransverse horizontal grooves extending partly through the same for thereception of the edge portion of the head, as

indicated most clearly in Fig. 8. The metal of the plate E contiguous tothe ends of the section a is recessed, so that the section ends can besprung therein so as to retain said section in position upon the uppertransverse edge. The lower section 6 is correspondingly retained inposition on the lower transverse edge by means of ears e at the lowerend of the plate F. and bent for a slight distance around the sectionends. It will be understood that the width of the sections 6 e betweenthe end-re'taining provision is in excess of that of the overhangingflanges B B so that when the garment fabric is drawn across the front ofthe plate B it can be secured by manipulating the clamping member E sothat the lower end of its head can be introduced within the deeper slotpresented by the lower flange B and thereafterthe upper portion of saidhead moved down and within the slot presented by the upper flange B Fromthe description immediately above it will be seen that practically allthe conditions involved in the device first described are also presentin the construction disclosed in Figs.

6 to 8, inclusive.

p In Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown an arm ngement somewhat similar to thatillustrated in Fig. 1, but having the flanges c c of the I yieldingsection, which serve to maintain the two members engaged, laterallydisposed instead of longitudinally, as in the first instance. In thisarrangement embodying the laterallydisposed flanges the engagement ofthe head E with the yielding section is effected by inclining said headtoward one side, so as to permit'one of its side bars 6 to pass beneathone of the lateral flanges and move beneath the same, to enable theother side bar to inwardly clear and move beneath the other lateralflange. The gripping of the fabric F is efiected between the upper edgee of the opening in the head and the contiguous end of the yieldingsection, the lower portion of the fabric passing beneath the lower bar 6so as to maintain said fabric not only in frictional engagement with thetop of the yielding section, but also cooperate through the downwardtension on the fabric to cause the upper edge e to more firmly clampsaid fabric against the contiguous end of the yielding section. 6 refersto the upper enlarged slotted portion of the head for its suspension,while upper and lower enlarged slotted portions 1) 12 provide for theconnection of the webbing with clamped-member F.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate an arrangement of the device wherein theplate 13 has the upper turns 79 clamping the ends of thesuspending-cords A The body of the plate a short distance below theturns is slitted to form ears which are outwardly bent toward each'other to constitute a loop bfl'through which plays the shank E of thewire-clampingmember formed by the vertical closely-parallel wireextensions, the upper terminal portions 11 of which are oppositely benthorizontally to prevent the downward withdrawal of the shank from theloop. The lower part of the clamping member is shaped to constitute thehead E of open character, but having the lateral loops 6 for serving asfinger-pieces in transversely tilting the head to effect its engagementwith and disengagement from the transversely-disposed flanges c c of theyielding section B, secured on the lower part of the plate 13. Insteadof attaching the yielding section by a separate metallic keeper I havein this instance shown tongues b as bent up from the plate B and turnedover within the channel b in the yielding section. Palpably the fabricpasses over the head and beneath the upper and lower end bars 6 e of thehead, downward tension exerted by the fabric on the latter operating tocause the IIO.

bar a to more positively grip the fabric 1 against the contiguous end ofthe yielding section. The liberal character of the loop 1) permits themovable member to swing to one side or the other and to be raised orlowered to any desired extent, the play of the shank E within said loopproviding for these several movements.

A device similar in some particulars is illustrated in Fig. 1.3,theplate 13 of the inner member having upper and lower slotted en.-largements b b at its ends for the connection of a suspending webbing AThe head E of the wire-clamping member is successively engaged with anddisengaged from the transversely-disposed flanges c e of the yieldi-ng &

section, the head being provided with a lower depending operating-loop 6instead of side loops, as in Fig. 11. A corresponding arrangement ofwire shank E having oppositely-bent upper ends e" and confining-loop Z),permits the various movements of the movable member-while insuring itspermanent attachment to the other member.

The movable member, which will generally be that exposed at the outerside of the garment when clamped, may be made to partake of variousartistic configurations to impart an attractive and finished effect tothe supporter. For instance, as illustrated in Fig. 14:, the shank E" ofsaid member may have the triangular effect indicated and the head Eshaped to present somewhat the shape of a horseshoe in outline. Thebizarre or ornate effect will be heightened by making the yieldingsection B vertically long and narrow, the supporting part B" thereof(dotted lines, Fig. 14) being so located to provide the upper shol terand lower longer engaging flanges c c In Fig. 15 I have represented anarrangement wherein the plate 13 has the enlarged upper and lower ends b0 for the attachment of the suspending webbing A" in an obvious manner.The flanges c 0 of the yielding section are at the upper and lower endsthereof to be engaged by the head E, the shank E of which presents atransverse loop E at its upper end in sliding engage ment with thewebbing. Fig. 16 discloses substantially the same arrangement as appliedto a cord-suspended supporter, the upper and lower flanges e c of theyielding section, carried by the plate B, being engaged by the head Ethe shank E of which has an upper loop E slidingly embracing the cords AOne of the important features connected with garment-supportersembodying my invention resides in the provision whereby comparativelylarge or extended bearing-surfaces are-provided for the fabric,particularly at the gripping portions of the device.

The novel device embodying myinvention is not only simple, but isconvenient of operation and is highly efficient in use. It can beembodied in comparatively few parts, which can be produced and assembledat small expense.

In those constructions where the flanges of the clamped member arelaterally disposed the downward tension of the fabric operates to holdthe head in a central position with respect to said section, and therebyprevent the disengagement of the head sides from the flanges.

It will be noted that in the embodiments of the invention illustrated inthe different figures of the drawings the relatively remote andlaterally-disposed side edges presented by the flanges, whether thelatter be transverse or vertical, are of such free character that whenthe head isbrought into coactive relation and engages the fabric thelatter is laterally disposed in a simple and even manner at both sidesof the head at the external portions of said head sides.

I do not wish to be understood limiting myself to the preciseconstructions shown and described, but reserve the right to all suchmodifications as may be fairly within the scope of my invention.

Having now described my invention, What I claim new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A garment-supporter comprising asuspended member with juxtaposed flanges having relatively remote andlaterally-located free outer edges, and a second member includingfabric-engagin g portions adapted to be successively engaged with andsimultaneously lie beneath said flanges.

2. A garment-supporter comprising a sus pended member embodying a platewith j uxtaposed flanges having relatively remote and laterally-locatedfree outer edges, and a second member including fabric-engaging portionsadapted to be successively engaged with and simultaneously lie beneathsaid flanges, one of said members having a yielding fabricengagingsurface.

In a garmcut-supporter, a member comprising a horizontally-projectinsection with juxtaposed flanges having relatively remote andlaterally-located free outer edges, and a second member adapted to bebrought into shiftable coactive relation with the section forsuccessively engaging the fabric at dis tinct points at opposite sidesof the section and for simultaneously lying beneath said flanges.

4. In a garment-supporter, a member comprising a plate and a sectionprojecting horizontally therefrom, and provided with juxtaposed flangesforming with said plate, recesses, the flanges having relatively remoteand laterally-located free outer edges, and a second member adapted tobe brought into shiftable relation with the section for successivelyengaging the fabric at distinct points at opposite sides of the section.

5. In a garment-supporter, a member comprising upper and lowertransverse flanges with relatively remote and laterally-located freeouter edges, a second member adapted to swing outwardly and havingportions for successively entering and simultaneously lying beneath saidflanges, and provision for cooperatively supporting said members.

6. In a garment-supporter, a member comprising relatively divergentflanges with laterally-located free outer edges, and a second memberhaving portions for successively entering and simultaneously lyingbeneath said flanges.

7. A garment-supporter comprising a member having juxtaposed flangesproviding rccesses of relatively varying sizes, a second member havingfabricengaging portions IIO adapted to successively enter andsimultaneously lie within said recesses, and provision for cooperativelysuspending saidmembers for the purpose specified.

8. A garment-supporter comprising a member having juxtaposed flangesproviding recesses of relatively varying size, a second member havingfabric-engaging portions adapted to successively enter and simulta-'neously' lie within said recesses, a yielding fabric-engagin g surfaceembodied in said supporter, and provision for cooperatively supportingsaid members for the purpose speci-x 10. In a garment-supporter, amember comprising a supporting-plate, a section secured to andprojecting from said plate and having oppositely located overhangingflanges, a second member comprising an open head pre senting engagingportions, said second member adapted to be brought into coactivefabric-engaging relation with the section by the successive engagementof the portions with the flanges, and provision for cooperativelysupporting said members for the purpose specified.

11. In a garment-supporter, a member comprising a section havingoppositely-located overhanging flanges, a second member comprising anopen head presenting engaging portions, said second member adapted to bebrought into coactive fabric-engaging relation with the section by thesuccessive engagement of the portions with the flanges, and a spring formoving the portion last engaged more completely beneath its flange.

12. In a garment-supporter, a membercomprising a supporting-plate,asection secured to and projecting from said plate and havingoverhanging flanges of varying size, a second member comprising an openhead presenting upper and lower fabric engaging portions and adapted tobe successively engaged with the flanges, and provision forcooperatively supporting said members for the purpose specified.

13. In a garment-supporter, a member comprising a supporting-plate, asection secured to and projecting from the plate and having overhangingflanges of varying size and rounded in the direction of the plate, asecond member comprising an open head presenting upper and lowerfabric-en gaging portions and adapted to be successively engaged withthe flanges, one of said members having a yieldlngfabric-engagingsurface, and provision for cooperatively supporting said members for thepurpose specified.

14. In a garment supporter, suspending provision, a plate supportedthereby, a section secured to and projecting from the plate and havingoverhanging flanges extending in opposite directions, and a headpivotally suspended to swing outwardly from the plate and adapted to besuccessively engaged with said flanges, said head embodying upper andlower fabric engaging bars, the upper bar being arched or outwardlycurved relative to thecontiguous portion of the section.

15. In a garment-supporter, amember comprising a yielding section havingoppositelylocated engaging flanges and a second member adapted to besuccessively engaged with said flanges and embodying upper and lowerfabric-engagin g bars.

16. In a garment-supporter, a suspending provision, a plate supportedthereby, a sec-' tion secured to and projecting from the plate,

said section having ayielding fabric-engaging portion at its outer endand provided with overhangingflanges extending in opposite directions,and a head pivotally suspended to swing outwardly from the plate andadapted to be successively engaged with said flanges, said headembodying upper and lower fabricengaging bars.

17. In a garment-supporter, a member comprising a supporting-plate, ahead having a yielding fabric-engaging surface and presentingoverhanging flanges, a keeper carried by i the plate and supporting thehead, and a second member adapted to be successively engaged with saidflanges and embodying upper and lower fabric-engaging bars.

18. In a garment-supporter, a member comprising a supporting-plate, ahead having a yielding fabric-engagin g surface and presentingoverhanging flanges, a keeper carried by the plate, embracing said headand bent around opposite ends thereof, and a second member adapted to besuccessively engaged with said flanges and embodying upper and lowerfabric-engaging bars.

19. Ina garment-supporter, a member comprising a supporting-plate, ahead provided with a channel and having a yielding fabricengagingsurface and presenting overhanging flanges, a keeper carried by theplate, lying within the channel and bent around the opposite ends of thechanneled head, and'a second member adapted to be successively engagedwith said flanges and embodying upper and lower fabric-engaging bars.

20. In a garment-supporter, a member comprising a yielding sectionpresenting the flanged head and body, and a second member adapted to besuccessively engaged with said flanges and embodying upper and lowerfabric-engaging bars.

21. In a garment-supporter, amembercomprising; a plate, a flanged headand body the Signed at New York, in the county of New latterhaving achannel, a keeper carried by York and State of New York, this 7 th dayof IO said body, embracing said head, and lying February, A. D. 1903.

within the channel at; the upper side of the r rw 5 body, and a secondmember adapted to be I 01 1O KRAUS' successively engaged with saidflanges and lVitnesses embodying upper and lower fabric-engagingXVILLIAM PAXTON, bars. HELEN E. Mnnun.

